Okay, what is Sardine Week?
It’s like Shark Week only smaller!
Sardine Week started as a joke, which evolved into my community outreach project required for the Nutritional Therapy Association and is now a full blown social media event. The goal here is that we, as a community, celebrate all aspects of the sardine, with a focus on nutritional benefits, affordability, and recipes to indulge in what is considered a delicacy seemingly everywhere BUT the US. Let’s change that.
….but why?
Sardines are a nutritional powerhouse; they have 150% of your daily recommended dose of B12, 17 grams of protein per serving, have more calcium than a glass of milk, selenium, magnesium, and phosphorus. They are a true superfood. And unlike most superfoods out there, sardines do not have a high price tag and contain many co-factors needed for absorption of their many nutrients. This makes them an accessible and affordable food supplement.
When is it?
Typically Sardine Week occurs during the last week of April. (You can see highlights from the previous year here.) But for 2022 it will be occurring in late July! Stay tuned!
Cool! Can I participate?
Yes! I would love that! My goal with this celebration is to build a genuine community and cut through the vapid and shallow depths of social media. I made a little print out to give you some information and guidelines, but I am really interested in seeing everyone have their own creative expression of this “prompt.” My only ask is that it is respectful and truthful regarding my little oily friends, sardines. Oh, and that you tag me, so A. I can see and B. I can repost it.
I see Sardine Week merch on your Instagram, where can I buy?
Right this way ➡️ Sardine Week Merch
Are there recipes to try?
Yes! Here is the link to the original Sardine Week Sardine Cakes video. Recipes are the focus of Sardine Week(s).
Why is everything on social media and not your blog?
To be honest, I haven’t decided how I want to archive all of the various posts and information. This started as a community outreach project, so social media seemed like the most logical place for it to live. But I would like to have it on here too. Any digital brand organizational experts out there? Email me, I’m having trouble synthesizing this. Also, IS this a blog? Because I’m not too diligent about posting….
Do you actually eat sardines?
I do! I was so afraid and grossed out by them at first. I’d suggest looking for a can that says “boneless & skinless” (make sure they’re packed in a good oil or water). The boneless and skinless are sardines with training wheels and the most similar to other canned fish. I’ve gotten braver and now eat the best quality I can find…with the bones and guts, because #nutrients. Sardines have such a similar taste to tuna fish, so that was never the issue for me, personally. If you can get the sardines out of the can and mash them quickly, they basically look and taste like tuna fish. Haven’t attempted to cook with fresh sardines….might save that for Sardine Week 2022.
How often do you eat them?
I try to eat sardines once a week for brain, skin, and nervous system health (sardines are chock full of B vitamins and minerals, which can help with nervous system function.) I treat them as, like I said, a superfood. They fit into my budget and allow me to forgo many supplements because of their nutrient density. And I’m all about saving $$ and getting great skin in the process.
What’s the ultimate goal for Sardine Week?
Ultimately, I just want everyone to get as many nutrients as they can. Our food system is so lacking and over-processed that I just want to see a bit more consciousness when it comes to consumption. My choice of sardines, while definitely comical, is proof that you don’t need $200 mushroom powders to be “healthy”. There are always options. And sardines are one of them! But if I had to synthesize it down to a statement, my goal would be: “Try the scary food item before dismissing it.”